Do you flush your Rads?

coughs · 24 Jul 2012 at 12:06

Hey,

I was wondering if you flush your new/old radiators and how often? Whats the best method to do this?

Is it actually essential?

Thanks

pgi947 · 24 Jul 2012 at 12:09

It is essential on new rads as there might still be solder/flux etc still sitting in the rad.

I do a flush when new and then when changing colour, or when I see bits of crud floating about in my res

Mayhems · 24 Jul 2012 at 12:20

New or old ALL WAYS flush your rads, even if it second hand as you never know what's been in it.

coughs · 24 Jul 2012 at 12:25

How exactly do you guys flush your rads?

Stelly · 24 Jul 2012 at 12:32

Last time I did it, I had my uncle (electrical engineer) he had a sink and a bucket with water in it, got the pump started and ran the bucket through....

Stelly

spixelspixel · 24 Jul 2012 at 12:37

easiest way -

fill rad with water, put a g1/4 stopper on all the threads, shake for a while, empty and repeat.

OptimaLnrg · 24 Jul 2012 at 12:39

Yes, it's essential.

I've seen a pic of a lump of solder as big as a peanut that came out of the end-tank of a phobya rad.

coughs · 24 Jul 2012 at 12:51

I read somewhere that you need a pond pump + filter to flush your radiators? Is there a cheaper way to do this?

OptimaLnrg · 24 Jul 2012 at 12:53

Fill it with distilled/deionised water. screw in the blanks

shake it

empty

repeat

ZXSpectrum · 24 Jul 2012 at 13:06

Didnt i see somewhere that a solution of distilled/deionised water and clear vinegar is good to flush it out?

spixelspixel · 24 Jul 2012 at 13:29

Not all radiators require flushing though.

I just received an EK rad today and on the back it says "Ready for use, no need for internal flushing/cleaning"

Swiftech rads also don't need to be flushed. "Quality assurance: all our radiators are ultrasonically cleaned to remove solder flux, and individually pressure-tested for leaks! "

However I bought a phobya rad recently (didn't flush) and a load of **** appeared in my reservoir. I guess that one needed flushing

OptimaLnrg · 24 Jul 2012 at 13:45

^I'd flush them anyway. Sod's law I'd not flush one that said it didn't need it and would get myself a pumpfull of solder.

Mayhems · 24 Jul 2012 at 15:08

clear vinegar (1 to 2 cap fulls) and water leave for a few hours, then hose pipe direct from tap to rad , tap on 1/8th and let the water run for 1/2 and our or so. then when finished rinse though with di water.

When rinsing i just add hose pipe to full loop and flush for 1/2 hours max, then flush with di water, then refill.

BriT · 24 Jul 2012 at 15:18

Flushed my XSPC RX360mm rad and was crystal clear first flush with de-ionised water.

Bubo · 24 Jul 2012 at 15:42

If you want to go mental send it to be ultra sonically cleaned. Anything that isn't metal will go, including the paint on the outside

minicle · 24 Jul 2012 at 18:05

Is it actually essential?

I would say so, yes.

jinxpad · 25 Jul 2012 at 14:32

I flush my Radiators thoroughly whenever changing out fluid or as some have said if by some chance I see anything floating in my res. I use the water filter method personally.

ThomasTheTankEngine · 25 Jul 2012 at 15:16

I flushed mine.....an EK and a XSPC.

Seemed like they didn't need it. Water came out clear with no bits and loop appears clean after a few months of running it.

Either way it only takes a few minutes, and saves you having to re-build the loop if you do get one that's full of crud.